7 Reasons to Visit Johor Bahru

My friends keep asking me: why do you like to visit Johor Bahru? There are a lot of places to travel in this part of Earth – why need to go JB? Well, here are 7 reasons why you should visit Johor Bahru.

1. To Enjoy Massage

There is no doubt that Johor Bahru is an Asian massage paradise. I’m a big fan of massage and I can honestly say that JB’s massage is the one of the best compared to Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia and Indonesia. Lots of JB massage centres offer Chinese, Thai, Javanese and other kinds of massage. The important fact is that staff in massage centres are “native” (e.g. therapists which do Thai massage are from Bangkok, Chinese massage – from China).

The best JB massage centres (like Kaki-Kaki reflexology) opened 24 hours and offer not only massage, but sauna, jacuzzi, acupuncture and other treatments. There is only one thing that I don’t like about Johor massage: high prices (3 times more expensive than Thailand).

2. To Try Delicious Food

According to Wikipedia the population of JB is 47.5% Malay, 34.2% Chinese, 9.0% Indian, 0.6% other minorities and 8.7% non-citizens. This mixing of cultures creates a varied cuisine in Johor Bahru.

Dishes like Bakuteh, Curry laksa, Fish head curry, Chilli crab and Wonton noodles are some of the must-try dishes in JB. My personal TOP-3 is Fish head curry, Peking duck and seafood at Todak. If you’re curious in trying Korean food, try BBQ and pancakes at Kim Chi & BBQ Restaurant. Besides of Asian food in JB you can try Italian, British, French and Spanish cuisine.

3. To Take Cheap Flight

Some time ago I discovered that flights from Johor Bahru Senai airport usually are cheaper that the same flights from Singapore Changi airport. The distance between Singapore and Senai is about 70 km, so it might be cheaper to take taxi to Johor airport and then take flight. For example, on August I paid 218 RM for flight Johor Bahru – Kuching. The same flight from Singapore cost 430 RM.

Senai International airport serves flights to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kota Kinabalu and a few more destinations.

4. To Visit Legoland

There are 6 Legoland Parks in the world and only one in Asia, in Johor Bahru. Legoland Malaysia offers more than 40 rides, shows and attractions including Water Park and awesome Miniland, where Asian landmarks have been recreated using more than 30 million Lego bricks.

5. To Fly a Kite

Have you ever fly a kite? There is a special place in JB to fly a kite, which is called Layang-Layang. Besides of a kite field there is an exhibition which includes a lot of colorful kites and information posters. The best time to visit Layang-Layang is February, when there is an International Kite Festival. This internationally acclaimed event has been hosted continuously since 1995.

Just remember to pick the right day for flying a kite:

If there’s a definite breeze but you don’t feel bowled over, it’s time to head for the kite-flying hills. The last thing you want to do is go out, spending hours just holding on. With a nice breeze, you can make your kite dance and soar and maybe even loops and tricks.Source: Wikihow

6. To Enjoy Shopping

There are a lot of choices for good shopping in Johor Bahru. You can purchase clothes at a bargain price, electronics, or Malaysian specialties. If you happen to be down in the city centre, do remember to drop by City Square for some awesome shopping. Fashion, restaurants, cinema and jewellery! Two more shopping malls “must visit” are Aeon Bukit Indah and Aeon Tebrau.

One of the largest mall in JB is Johor Premium Outlets, where you can find a wide array of brands outlet stores featuring factory-direct savings of 25% to 65% every day. Designer fashions and sportswear, shoes, luggage, jewerly, accessories and gifts – it is not a complete list of what you can buy in JB Outlet.

7. To Step onto the Southest Point of the Eurasian mainland

Tanjung Piai is the most southern cape of Peninsular Malaysia and thus the southernmost point of the Eurasian mainland. This place is located 80 km from Johor Bahru – you need at least an hour to get there from JB city, but it’s worth it. Place is marked by a sign with an inscription “Congratulation! You are now standing at the southern most tip of mainland Asia”.

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3 Comments

Hi I stumble on your blog. I am a Johor Blogger. Nice to heard that tourist appreciate the beauty of this southern state. Malaysians usully use Johor Bahru as the stepping stone to Singapore. Feel free to visit my blog, http://lertraveldiary.blogspot.com to enjoy more great food ^^